Improvement in wrenches



.J. 3. FOX.

WRENCH. I No. 189,352, Patented April 10, 1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrron.

JOHN BAOON FOX, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WRENCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,352, dated April10, 1877 application filed October 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. FOX, of South Bend, in the county of St.Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wrenches; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of this application.

My invention has for its object to produce a wrench for the purpose ofsecuring the nuts of tyre-bolts upon carriage and wagon wheels; and itconsists of a sectional bearing-frame, within which are secured twomeshing-gears, the shafts of which are provided with square recessesadapted to receive the square shanks of a wrench-block andoperating-handle, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In securing and loosening the nuts upon the tyre-bolts of carriage andwagon wheels great difficulty and inconvenience are experienced inoperating with the ordinary wrench, from the fact that the nuts arenecessarily on the inner or under side of the rim and between thespokes, so that little room is afforded for the turning of the wrench.

My invention overcomes these objections, as the operating handle orlever extends above and beyond the tyre of the wheel, and may be readilyand speedily rotated, and, by its connection with one of the incasedgears, and the relation therewith of the other gear and wrench-block,anut may be easily tightened or loosened.

To enable others to more fully understand my invention I will describethe same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawing, whichrepresents a central longitudinal section of a wrench embodyln g thefeature of my invention.

A represents the upper, and B the lower, halves of the cast frame,provided at each end with ears to a, which are secured together by boltsand nuts I). The lower half B of the frame is formed with countersinksO, and the upper half with open bosses or bearings D, into and throughwhich the shafts E of two meshing-gears, F, find bearings. The shafts Ehave a central square slot or opening partially or entirely through thesame, adapted to receive the square stems or shanks of a wrench-block,G, and operating-lever or crankhandle, H, and, as is obvious, theturning of the handle H rotates the gear, within whose shaft it islocated, and by its relation with the other gear and wrench-block causesthe latter to rotate. The gear with their shafts or hubs are droppedinto position in the lower half B of the frame, and the upper half A isthen placed over the same. The ears of the two halves coinciding arethen secured by the bolts and nuts I), and the parts are thus secured inproper position.

The manner ofusingmy improved wrench is to place the wrench-block G overthe nut to be turned, holding the frame A B in the hand and up againstthe nut. The opposite end of the frame projects beyond the side of therim of the wheel. The crank-handle H is then inserted in place, and itsposition will be such that the grasping portion I will be above the rimof the wheel, and its shank outside the edge of the rim, so that thepower is applied on the opposite side of the rim to that upon which thenut lies.

Ofcourse it is immaterial which side or in which shaft or hub the wrenchblock and handle are secured, and it is also obvious that wrench-blocksof greater or less dimensions may be used in connection with a singleframe and set of gears without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with a frame made in two parts, and adapted to be securedtogether, and provided with suitable bearings, the meshing-gears withslotted shafts or hubs adapted to receive a wrench-block andoperating-handle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Witness my hand and seal this 30th day of August, A. D. 1876.

JOHN B. FOX. [L. s.] Witnesses:

Gno. H. ALWARD, JortN BROWN.

